Analysis of Contemporary Media Reporting on the World of Work
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Topic7LectureNotesPart2.pptxWork in a Global Society
Topic 7 – Flexibility: A win-win?
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Lecture & readings Recap
Individually:
Write a paragraph that summarises what this week’s topic is about. In doing so, it should answer:
What are the key themes/concepts for week 7?
We will then share some paragraphs as a class.
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Key concepts and essay questions:
Concepts:
Types and forms of standard and non standard employment
Employer and worker-orientated flexibility
The Flexible Firm
Contingent work
The Precariat
Questions:
Is flexibility a win for workers and a win for employers? Discuss drawing upon the debates raised in class and in the readings.
In what ways is non-standard work and precariousness becoming the ‘new normal’ in globalised labour markets and what are the implications of this development for workers and workers rights?
What are the challenges for different groups of workers, businesses, and society in relation to the rise of non-standard forms of work?
How might worker preferences for flexibility be accommodated while meeting the flexibilities sought by employers?
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Required Readings
International Labour Organization [ILO] (2016) Non-standard employment around the world: Understanding challenges, shaping prospects
Rubery, J., Keizer, A., & Grimshaw, D. (2016). Flexibility bites back: the multiple and hidden costs of flexible employment policies Human Resource Management Journal, 26(3), 235-251
Standing, G. (2011) ‘Chapter 1. The Precariat’, in G. Standing, The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class, Bloomsbury Academic, p. 1-25,
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Work in the News
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Work in the News
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Assessment Three
1. Working individually, write a response to the three questions for assessment three based on this week’s media article (25 minutes)
2. In groups of two, share and provide peer feedback on each others work (15 minutes in breakout rooms).
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Precariat debate activity
The statement up for debate is as follows:
Guy Standing is correct in calling the Precariat a ‘dangerous’ new class.
If you are on the FOR side, you need to explain how/why the Precariat is significant, why it’s dangerous (and in what sense – dangerous to themselves? To the elite? To society in general? Etc).
If you are on the AGAINST side you need to explain how/why the precariat is not so significant, not so dangerous, perhaps it’s not really that ‘new’ a development under capitalism etc.
Each side will have 1 minute to make a short opening statement giving your overall argument directly responding to the statement and explaining why, referring to at least 1 of the required readings for this week and any other supporting evidence you can find as a group.
This will be followed by rebuttal from both sides – so take notes and listen actively and carefully to plan this, don’t just wait for your turn to speak.
Finally the floor will be opened to Q&A, one speaker at a time.
Several ‘judges’ will be pulled away from each team to help me choose the debate’s winner. Each of them will represent the interests of one particular group: either the Transnational Capitalist Class, the middle class, the Proletariat, or the Precariat.
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Flexibility: A win-win?
In this clip from 7.30, we hear from workers about their experience in casual employment, and how different groups view these trends.
Make sure you note down any key points made in the video.
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This video is a bit older (2011), so optional if you wish to use it.
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How is the COVID-19 response impacting on the workforce?
Divide into four groups. Each group will consider how the COVID-19 response has impacted on the workers in their category. The categories are:
Full-time workers
Part-time workers
Migrant workers
Unemployed workers
The precariat and gig workers
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Work in a Global Society
Assignment two
Activity
Download the Campbell et al. reading for week 7, and go to the section where they discuss the findings from the interviews.
In your assignment groups, I want you to identify the main themes of the data as discussed by the authors. In doing so, you should also identify:
What the findings are for each theme
How it is evidenced in the paper (i.e. how are quotes used, how is each theme explained)
Evaluate how effective you find the discussion of the data
What you will take from the paper for your own data discussion
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Analysing your data
Once each group member has conducted their interview, you will need to begin analysing the data to determine what you will discuss in your final report.
It might be easier for you to think about the body of your report in terms of 3-4 themes that you then discuss the data in relation to those themes.
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Coding
Coding is the process of organising and sorting your data. Coding can be done in any number of ways, but it usually involves assigning a word, phrase, number or symbol to different statements in your interviews.
You might like to code with these questions in mind:
What is this saying? What does it represent?
What is this an example of?
What do I see is going on here?
What is happening?
What kind of events are at issue here?
What is trying to be conveyed?
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